[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 19869]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            SWIFT CREEK HYDROELECTRIC LICENSE EXTENSION BILL

  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 244) to extend the deadline for commencement of 
construction of a hydroelectric project in the State of Wyoming.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 244

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF TIME FOR THE FEDERAL ENERGY 
                   REGULATORY COMMISSION HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT.

       Notwithstanding the time period specified in section 13 of 
     the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) that would otherwise 
     apply to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission project 
     numbered 1651, the Commission may, at the request of the 
     licensee for the project, and after reasonable notice, in 
     accordance with the good faith, due diligence, and public 
     interest requirements of that section and the Commission's 
     procedures under that section, extend the time period during 
     which the licensee is required to commence the construction 
     of the project for 3 consecutive 2-year periods from the date 
     of the expiration of the extension originally issued by the 
     Commission.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Idaho (Mr. Otter) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Boucher) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Idaho.


                             General Leave

  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to insert extraneous material on the Senate bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Idaho?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 244, the Swift Creek 
Hydroelectric License Extension Bill, authorizing the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission to extend the time specified in the project 
license to begin construction of the Swift Creek Hydroelectric Project 
for three 2-year periods, a total of 6 years.
  The Swift Creek Project is a 1.5 megawatt project in Wyoming. This 
bill has passed the Senate with unanimous consent, and passage of the 
bill today will send this bill directly to the President's desk and 
allow the further development of clean renewable hydroelectric power. I 
urge my colleagues to support S. 244.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOUCHER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of this legislation which would authorize the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the commencement of 
construction deadline for the Swift Creek Hydroelectric Project in 
Wyoming for three 2-year periods. The license was originally issued in 
1997, and the bill before us would provide a routine extension of the 
commencement of construction deadline.
  The legislation is noncontroversial and was approved by voice vote of 
the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and so I urge the House 
approve the legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.
  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I 
urge the immediate passage of S. 244.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill, S. 244.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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